December Fun

I have been very blessed to enjoy a lot of time off from work this year during the Christmas/New Year's holidays. It has been really nice to have a little extra time to try out some new recipes and to be slightly less frantic about all the Christmas preparations. This year Jeremy and I went to see "The Nutcracker" Ballet Dec. 22nd. I really wanted to take Emily, but the start time was 7:30 and I just didn't think we would enjoy it as much if we were worried about outbursts, fatigue melt-downs, etc. I know Emily would have loved the music and pretty ballerinas so next year we will have to do it! My father-in-law works part-time as a floor manager at the KY Center so one of the "perks" is being able to get free tickets every so often. Nancy babysat Emily for us that night so Jeremy and I were treated to a really nice date night for only $7 (parking).

Mom and Dad came up to visit us on the 23rd (my birthday). It had been awhile since they had had some quality time with Emily and so we were content to stay at home and play for most of the day. I treated myself to a manicure at my favorite spot in the Highlands while Emmy napped. That night all of us met Nancy and Don at Havana Rumba for some yummy Cuban food. The food was good, but the restaurant was terribly noisy. We couldn't even carry on a conversation! I chose that restaurant because I knew that it had good food and it was casual enough that no one would be bothered by a toddler during dinner. For sure no one was bothered by Emily because I could barely hear her while she ate right next to me! The place was that LOUD! We had dessert back at our house that night and opened up b-day gifts.

Earlier this month, we took Emily to the Santa Safari at the zoo. Originally, we were going to see the Kalightoscope with the Ryan family who also have a little girl Emmy's age, but they had to cancel last minute as their daughter was sick. Since we we had seen Kalightoscope last year, we decided to try out the zoo event. Basically, the zoo event was a big group of parents/children in a large room with lots of people in costume (elves, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty, penguins, etc.) They provided a snack and a craft. Later, the children could sit on Santa's lap for a photo if they liked. Well, Emmy did NOT like the characters. She was very timid and placed her little head on Dad's shoulder for a good portion of the time. Later, we got her to eat her cookie and do her craft, but when I asked her if she wanted to sit in Santa's lap, she said, "No, I wanna go see the polar bears." We are NOT one of those parents that force the Santa issue and send our crying, terrified child on Santa's lap for the sake of a photo. If Emmy didn't want to sit on Santa's lap, that was that. Luckily, the zoo has many things you can enjoy during the winter months. We made our way through the zoo's heated buildings and enjoyed the other events that were set up for the "safari" (e.g. various child friendly exhibits where children could see and touch small animals and learn about different topics.) Of course, Emmy really just wanted to see the polar bears as she patiently repeated to us several times. We bundled up and made our way to the polar bear and seal lion exhibit. It was a sunny winter day and it was really nice to get out and stretch our legs.

On a side note, one of the Louisville zoo's polar bears has major issues. He has some kind of tic that makes him walk several steps forward, then shake his head side to side while walking back to his starting point. He repeats this pattern over and over and over again. Does this every time we're there. We think he might have some "coping issues." I would love to see that great big beast jump into the water and swim in the huge tank that is right before our eyes, but nope. He just paces and paces. The new polar cub is way more fun to watch and that is what entertains us most of all.

First Potty Poo

So for weeks now, Emily has been able to peepee on her little potty pretty regularly, but has been really hesitant to poop on the potty. Lately, she will even go to the bathroom, shut the door, and poop in her diaper and then come tell me to change her (or take her own diaper off if you don't come fast enough!) I knew she was getting pretty close to learning to go on the potty. Well, she finally did it yesterday!

Funny thing is that she has been sick since Tuesday--high fever, runny nose--doctor said it was a virus so we've been waiting for it to go away. Little girl hasn't been feeling well so I really haven't been pushing her to use the potty, but I will take her when she asks. Yesterday, she said she needed to go to the bathroom. She shuts the bathroom door and tells me, "No mommy, I do it myself." I'm thinking, "great, she's going to make a mess", but I respect her "privacy" and kind of listen and keep the door cracked. She's so dang independent already.

Several minutes later I hear the potty bucket hitting the toilet and I'm concerned that she's trying to dump out the contents. I walked in and saw that Emmy did her #2 business in the little potty and was trying to put it in the toilet to flush. I was so proud and happy! Of course I made a really big deal about her going in the potty for the first time and gave her a special treat. Then, we called Daddy and the grandparents to let them know that Emily did her first poo poo in the potty.

We still have a LONG way to go with potty training, but it is good to see her making connections and understanding. Toddlers get so busy and distracted that it is hard to remember to make them go regularly. After the holidays, I'm hoping to stay home with her for a few days and do a potty "boot camp" (ie. no pull-ups or diapers during the day and only use training panties.) It will be hard, but I think we will make faster progress that way. We'll see....

My Sweetheart

Emmy has been a little under the weather today, but instead of being a cranky sick kid. She's been a doll. She's been less active and WAY more mellow. She woke up with a high fever and since we are so close to Christmas and have lots of plans, I wasn't waiting around to see if it would go away. I thought she might have an ear or sinus infection since she's had a runny nose for a few days. So, I took her to the doctor. She was well behaved at the doctor's and didn't cry at all (unlike last time when she screamed bloody murder as soon as he walked in and tried to touch her.) When Dr. B. asked what was wrong, Emmy says, "I gotta runny nose." This morning she told me, "I don't taste [food], mommy."

Everything checked out OK at her doctor's appointment so for now, it looks like a 2-3 day virus with high fever that's been making the rounds around town. Tonight we we were all in her bedroom winding down for the evening and checking out which books to read. Out of the blue, Emmy says, "TuTu mommy." (Emily speak for "Thank you.") I asked her several times, "for what, Emily?" And she kept saying, "tutu mommy" and finally added, "for our pretty house." Well, I pretty much melted right then and there. My doll baby was THANKING me for our pretty house. And Dad was sitting right there, too, but she directed it to me--like she knows that Mom does most of the cleaning and decorating and picking up, etc. That little compliment makes all of the dragging up of boxes from the basement, putting up the tree and decorations, researching which lights to get for the windows and outside, shopping for all the presents, and cooking all the special little Christmas treats totally worth it. I want her to grow up in a pretty, happy home and always remember that Christmas was a special time of year in our home.

Little girl got spoiled a bit tonight and I rocked her to sleep while singing all of my favorite Christmas carols.

Thanksgiving 2011

Every year this happens. I refuse to put away my fall/Thanksgiving decorations until after Thanksgiving, but then I feel "behind" the next day when I don't have anything up for Christmas. Kind of an impossible task, but that is how I usually feel! We are still working on getting everything decorated. Hopefully, tonight we can get some ornaments on the tree! This year I was off work for my usual 4 day weekend and it was wonderful to have so much time with family. We spent Thanksgiving in Louisville this year. Jen, Ed, and Elizabeth were in town for a visit. We usually only see them for Christmas, but this year they came up for Thanksgiving instead. (The timing worked out better since Jen was just returning from a business trip and her parents had watched Elizabeth for her.) Nancy said it was the first time in 6 yrs that Jen and Ed had been home for Thanksgiving, so it was definitely a treat to have them home. I tried out two new recipes (for me) which I don't necessarily recommend doing on Thanksgiving day, but it worked out OK. I made a homemade pumpkin pie and a wonderful cranberry/fruit salad. We celebrated Ed's 35th birthday on Friday with another big meal and cake. It was a good eating weekend and my mother-in-law worked her butt off to make everything nice and special.

We haven't been to Bowling Green to visit the Lee family yet. I'm really missing my little nephews right now! I had enough time off to be with both families, but we are kind of on call right now waiting to visit Bowling Green once we get the word that our niece has been born. So, we decided to wait until then. (Becca is due Dec. 4th.) Also, Karrie McKinnon and I went to Ashland for the day to see our friend, Misty, who is 7 months pregnant and looking adorable! It was a LONG day in the car Sunday, but Karrie and I chatted the whole time and really got a chance to catch up with one another. I was very happy we were able to take special gifts to shower Misty. Just wish her parents lived closer so we could all get together every time she was in KY.

Our family has so much to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Not liking the sweet potato casserole, but it was SO GOOD!

Our sweet girls!

Trying for a Christmas card photo--what a challenge with these squiggly, wiggly girls!

Happy Elizabeth is pretty photogenic!

Elizabeth loved to watch Emily and would laugh at almost anything she did!

Kisses for cousin "EB"